2 Jewels In A Shadowy Setting

August 6, 1985|By Orange

Whatever happens to the remainder of the 1985 baseball season, the grand old game gave fans two gems to savor Sunday, even as shadows of a potentially devastating strike lengthened across the fields. In New York, Chicago White Sox pitcher Tom Seaver stopped the Yankees, 4-1, to win his 300th game. A continent away, California Angels first baseman Rod Carew singled in the third inning to record his 3,000th career hit.

Neither event needs embellishment to highlight the achievement. Since baseball statistics have been kept since 1876, more than 13,000 men have played in the majors. Of them, 17 have won 300 or more games as a pitcher, and only 16 have compiled 3,000 or more hits. To any true baseball fan, their names are the stuff of goosebumps: Cy Young, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Christy Mathewson, Warren Spahn; Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Tris Speaker, Honus Wagner.

Add two more names to that list now -- Tom Seaver and Rod Carew -- and cross your fingers that this insane labor dispute can be settled in time to give another playing legend, Pete Rose, a chance to claim one of the brightest jewels in baseball's crown, Ty Cobb's career hits standard. Mr. Rose comes to play every day. It would be an ugly irony indeed if he were denied the mark this season because players and owners refused to play at all.